Opportunity

A one word theme to live by was one of the hardest things I have had to come up with.

Resolutions are much easier. You think of a goal you want to accomplish, write it down, make a plan, and follow through (hopefully). Resolutions are specific in nature. A one word theme can encompass a myriad of possibilities... a much more challenging task.

I decided to rise to Mama Kat's challenge and choose a one word theme to live by for 2013. After much thought... after all, it's for an entire year, I decided to dedicate myself to a year of...

Op.por.tu.ni.ty 

Opportunity is defined as - a set of circumstances with uncertain outcome, requiring commitment of resources and involving exposure to risk.

I broke the definition down even further to fully understand what I was getting myself into. 

Circumstances - details surrounding a situation, or a condition that causes something to occur.

Commitment - dedication, application; act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself; pledge, promise, obligation, responsibility

Resources - stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets (skills, knowledge, etc.) that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function. 

Risk - a situation involving exposure to danger, harm, or loss.

Opportunity can present itself in many forms: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, personal, financial. It could take me in any direction. 

When reflecting on last year, 2012, I want to put it behind me and never go there again (if I can help it). It was a year filled with surgery and illness. That, in itself, propels me to think of opportunities for improving my health. 

And there's something else. I have the opportunity to learn something new and challenging that is completely outside my comfort zone. Something I promised my mother I would do before she passed away. I promised to look after her genealogy and continue researching the family line. I started last year by organizing family histories, scanning old family photos, slides and negatives onto cd's to share will family members, and making a copy of my mother's family (sibling) history book for relatives. It was a big job! Mom is counting on me to continue and do much more. 

My mother's side of the family nominated me as the permanent Historian for the family. Thanks to my mother's dedication and transferring of responsibility to me! I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I so readily accepted her request just before she passed. I am quite intimidated by the name Historian. What does that really mean? Mom's family is large (she was the 9th child out of 11). I can think of other family members who could do a much better job. But, I'm it! And that's just one side to it. The research... overwhelming! I'm starting a new Family History class this week that will hopefully put me on the track to researching with confidence.

Improving my health and continuing my mother's quest for family research are two big opportunities staring me in the face this year. But, there are also the small, everyday opportunities that will, inevitably  present themselves every day of the year. It's one thing to vegetate, and it's another thing to do! This year I will look for the opportunities, great or small, to change myself and those around me for the better. This is going to be a great year, I can already tell! 

writing prompt #1: Instead of a resolution, some people choose a theme word to live by for the year. Choose a word for 2013 and tell us why you chose it.